What people have said!

The Old Vicarage is a Grade II listed building. The building
is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation
Areas) act 1900 for its special architectural or historic
interest.

Dorney Parish Eton College Project.

Started in 1972 to provide holidays for underprivileged
children run by Dorney Parish, Eton College and The Diocese of
Oxford.

The Centre closed in 2016.

Local newspapers report on the closure.

Used as a place for various church youth groups who came from around the country for respite stays and holidays.

In 1990's
four groups of children who were affected by the Chernobyl disaster were guests at the centre.

For many years groups from Hackney stayed a week at a time during the summer holidays..

Children from Oxford came to stay during the Easter and Summer holidays organised and staffed by Oxford University Students.

The Centre staff also entertained local Senior Citizens by providing lunches and outings.

Click above for more photos of 'The Happening'.

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Click above for photos of the Centre.

Ex-Chairman Mr. John Wood-Dow of the Project

â€œIt was a hard decision to come to, to wind down operations but we could not longer justify the upkeep of the building, especially as the primary purpose it was set up for is no longer as relevant. It has done some fantastic work over the last 40 years and everyone who has been involved should be really proud.â€

Did we make a difference?

So many children stayed at the Centre over the years. Nine individual or couples became wardens during that time. Each brought something new and provided a place where children could feel relaxed and safe. All helped by willing assistants
along with boys from Eton College who assisted with holidays for children from Hackney, East London. We also catered for adults including Australian rowers competing in the Olympics.
Groups that came to the Centre included children from Oxford organised by Exeter and Lincoln Colleges. Church Youth Groups, Schools
and Social Service training courses. Each month we also provided a meal and outings for the local senior citizens.

More recently the Wisdom Project has been hosted at the centre, a scheme set up by the trustees to bring together young people of different faiths and backgrounds to foster inter-faith understanding.

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Testimonies

"I recall that on one visit a girl fell and knocked her head which proved
to be of greater concern to the leaders than her but within a short
period of time you had arranged a visit by the Queen's doctor to
reassure everyone.
"

Michael Holt, St. Peter's Earley.

"Most important thing was the people I made friends with, who
were kind, thoughtful, sincere and generous. I remember playing
games in the evening, joking and laughing at each other, then I
understood an English sense of humour." – Ludmila, Belarusian Interpreter

"Sad to know that that
it's all a thing of the past though but I know that countless lives
were touched through the provision of the Eton Dorney Centre and
that is priceless."

– Julie Scammell (Woods)

"I know that so many
young people found their wings at the Dorney centre, it was a very
special place with a very special atmostphere."

– Sarah Perceval / Sage in Residence

Hits from 1 January 2018

Dorney Parish Eton College Project

The main purpose of the Project was to hold conferences for young people to discuss the needs of the community and in particular to advancement of education the furtherance health and the relief of poverty distress and sickness thereby promoting charitable purposes for the benefit of the Community..